CHAPTER VIII 

 NON-CONTAGIOUS DISEASES 



In studying the anterior portion of the digestive tract we 

 find a different arrangement in the organs for taking the food 

 into the mouth than that of quadrupeds, in that there is no 

 teeth or arrangement for masticating the food before it is 

 swallowed. It is not at first reduced to fineness so that diges- 

 tion can take place at once, but is stored and later passed 

 along and reduced to fineness in a specially constructed organ, 

 the gizzard. 



The organs of prehension are the upper and lower mandibles 

 or jaws, commonly known as the beak. The tongue does not 

 play a great part in this process. 



Obstruction of the beak has been observed, and is usually 

 due to a piece of wood or other material becoming lodged cross- 

 wise between the wings of the jaw. 



Pip is an imaginary disease, as hollow tail or hollow horn of 

 cattle. At times conditions arise where the membranes of the 

 mouth become dried and parched and the end of the tongue 

 perhaps suffering the greater injury. The dried end of the 

 tongue is supposed to be a disease and some persons proceed 

 to try to pick it off. In such conditions try and find out the 

 the cause and remove it. Moisten the mouth three times a 

 day with glycerin and water in equal parts. 



Sore mouth or stomatitis may be due to a fungus or low- 

 grade mold, or it may be due to taking into the mouth irritat- 

 ing substances. It is also noted to accompany roup. The 

 ulceration in the mouth in roupy conditions is of a diphtheritic 

 condition — ^that is, there is a considerable destruction of cellu- 

 lar tissue of the area of mucous membrane affected. 



A saturated solution of boric acid is excellent treatment in 

 all cases except in those of ulceration due to roup. In these 

 cases it is necessary to scrape the ulcer with a dull knife and 



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